Please don`t let this devastate you for a moment longer Ben.....you are most likely far from alone in being taken in by the claptrap which leads many young people into undertaking training and education..... which may have no likelihood of ending in a job for more than a small fraction of those who enrol.

Now that much of our industry is gone (and the remainder can`t employ as many people) our politicians are having to provide a new industry.....educati
on and training as an end in itself.
If we were provided with truthful figures it would not surprise me to learn that a high proportion of young British and imigrant people are recipients of what I believe is often bogus training/education.
It all keeps lecturers in work...but it risks creating a growing sense of disillusionment among those who come to realise how futile it really is.

Please don`t let this devastate you for a moment longer Ben.....you are most likely far from alone in being taken in by the claptrap which leads many young people into undertaking training and education..... which may have no likelihood of ending in a job for more than a small fraction of those who enrol.

Now that much of our industry is gone (and the remainder can`t employ as many people) our politicians are having to provide a new industry.....educati
on and training as an end in itself.
If we were provided with truthful figures it would not surprise me to learn that a high proportion of young British and imigrant people are recipients of what I believe is often bogus training/education.
It all keeps lecturers in work...but it risks creating a growing sense of disillusionment among those who come to realise how futile it really is.

Did you also not realise this Ben, when you were studying for your degree, the government classed you as "employed" - the reason that they are paying 16 year olds to stay in Education is to fiddle the youth unemployment figures. When you graduate of course - you are no longer a "youth" but an adult when they can fiddle that category as well. If I were you and applying locally, I wouldn't mention that I had a degree - you are to good for them - why not try London or one of the big cities were hairdressers are a bit more sophisticated and value that sort of thing. Failing that - why not find some scheme for "business start assistance" and start your own salon - you will bowl them over. Good luck to you.

Did you also not realise this Ben, when you were studying for your degree, the government classed you as "employed" - the reason that they are paying 16 year olds to stay in Education is to fiddle the youth unemployment figures. When you graduate of course - you are no longer a "youth" but an adult when they can fiddle that category as well. If I were you and applying locally, I wouldn't mention that I had a degree - you are to good for them - why not try London or one of the big cities were hairdressers are a bit more sophisticated and value that sort of thing. Failing that - why not find some scheme for "business start assistance" and start your own salon - you will bowl them over. Good luck to you.

Both gentlemen above are correct, Ben, in my opinion.

Jim is correct - they are totally massaging the unemployment figures, to make them look better. Those that are not in "Education" are then employed by the government as civil servants - hence the explosion in departments, quangos, etc. - and all with excessive salaries, and index-linked pensions to follow, all paid for by us - the taxpayer! (Yes, I am bitter!)

This massive - and unnecessary - employment by the government, keeps the unemployment figures well down. It's false employment, of course - most of them walk around with clip-boards all day - go up to County Hall and see for yourself! It's another world.

Come the revolution, a good many will have to go, of course!

Alan2 also is right, when he says "start your own business". In a big city is OK if you can live with that. I moved here from B'ham in 1976 and did just that, however, although it is a "rural area" I found there was plenty of work to be found, just within a 25-mile radius of Pershore - and a much nicer area to travel around in than most of B'ham!

I was not in hairdressing, I was in vending, hot drinks, cans, etc, but I found "if you give people good value for money and a personal service" it works! Word spreads.

Not only that, with trial and error - and we all make mistakes - you get a hell of a buzz and peace of mind when you succeed!

Life is for living!

Have you got a good parent or friend you can trust entirely, who can look after the money side, while you "do hair"? somebody with a "money brain" - but "hair-brained", if you see what I mean!

We are not all good at everything - if you're good at hair, stick with that, but find a close and competant colleague to help with the money side.

As I said, we all make the odd mistake - but remember "the man who never made a mistake - never made anything"!

"Big Oak Trees..." Ben! We all have to start somewhere.Start with releatives and friends - but charge them a fair price! It's a business, not a charity!

...and check out your competitors, as well!

Please keep us informed of your progress, won't you?

I wish you the very best of good luck!

Both gentlemen above are correct, Ben, in my opinion.

Jim is correct - they are totally massaging the unemployment figures, to make them look better. Those that are not in "Education" are then employed by the government as civil servants - hence the explosion in departments, quangos, etc. - and all with excessive salaries, and index-linked pensions to follow, all paid for by us - the taxpayer! (Yes, I am bitter!)

This massive - and unnecessary - employment by the government, keeps the unemployment figures well down. It's false employment, of course - most of them walk around with clip-boards all day - go up to County Hall and see for yourself! It's another world.

Come the revolution, a good many will have to go, of course!

Alan2 also is right, when he says "start your own business". In a big city is OK if you can live with that. I moved here from B'ham in 1976 and did just that, however, although it is a "rural area" I found there was plenty of work to be found, just within a 25-mile radius of Pershore - and a much nicer area to travel around in than most of B'ham!

I was not in hairdressing, I was in vending, hot drinks, cans, etc, but I found "if you give people good value for money and a personal service" it works! Word spreads.

Not only that, with trial and error - and we all make mistakes - you get a hell of a buzz and peace of mind when you succeed!

Life is for living!

Have you got a good parent or friend you can trust entirely, who can look after the money side, while you "do hair"? somebody with a "money brain" - but "hair-brained", if you see what I mean!

We are not all good at everything - if you're good at hair, stick with that, but find a close and competant colleague to help with the money side.

As I said, we all make the odd mistake - but remember "the man who never made a mistake - never made anything"!

"Big Oak Trees..." Ben! We all have to start somewhere.Start with releatives and friends - but charge them a fair price! It's a business, not a charity!

...and check out your competitors, as well!

Please keep us informed of your progress, won't you?

I wish you the very best of good luck!

That should read - NOT hair-brained, of course! Sorry!

That should read - NOT hair-brained, of course! Sorry!

Reading Ben`s letter and our responses has triggered another thought.....do we really NEED a lot of the education and training which is so often promoted as an unquestionably good thing......particula
rly now it costs so much money?
How many lawyers,hairdressers
,media consultants,historia
ns,etc.,can a society cope with?What will happen to those who can`t hussle themselves a living as a member of their overpopulated trade,profession or calling?
All my adult life I have heard enthusiasts for capitalism banging on about market forces being the most effective arbiter of what a society really wants.....but so much of what, in fact,
happens is irrational,wasteful and, sometimes, socially harmful.
Lots of people are now encouraged into education,training and employment which hasn`t more than a small likelihood of success ...... we don`t really NEED the service it`s all based on providing.
This skews society into basing itself around a culture of artificial desire....a cosmetic,shallow world centred on advertising,hype,dis
honesty,etc.,which is intellectually,emoti
onally and spiritually unsatisfying and unhealthy.
How many of our lives really matter?We are not encouraged to dwell on the value of our contribution to society these days....but surely it`s time to examine what our lives are really about?

Reading Ben`s letter and our responses has triggered another thought.....do we really NEED a lot of the education and training which is so often promoted as an unquestionably good thing......particula
rly now it costs so much money?
How many lawyers,hairdressers
,media consultants,historia
ns,etc.,can a society cope with?What will happen to those who can`t hussle themselves a living as a member of their overpopulated trade,profession or calling?
All my adult life I have heard enthusiasts for capitalism banging on about market forces being the most effective arbiter of what a society really wants.....but so much of what, in fact,
happens is irrational,wasteful and, sometimes, socially harmful.
Lots of people are now encouraged into education,training and employment which hasn`t more than a small likelihood of success ...... we don`t really NEED the service it`s all based on providing.
This skews society into basing itself around a culture of artificial desire....a cosmetic,shallow world centred on advertising,hype,dis
honesty,etc.,which is intellectually,emoti
onally and spiritually unsatisfying and unhealthy.
How many of our lives really matter?We are not encouraged to dwell on the value of our contribution to society these days....but surely it`s time to examine what our lives are really about?